Device for dispensing pressuresensitive adhesive tape



G. H. FRITZINGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1945 K M/ JJ I IIII lllul' April 28, 1953 G. H. FRITZINGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1945 ul llllv April 28, 1953 G. H. FRITZINGER DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE Original Filed Nov. 13, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 28, 1953 G. H. FRITZINGER DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE 4 Sheets-$heet 4 Original Filed Nov. 15, 1945 Patented Apr. 28, 1953 DEVICE FOR. DISPENSING PRESSURE- .SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE George H. Fritzinger, West Orange, N. J assignor of one-half to Harold G. Kendall, Brooklyn,

Original application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 627,997. Divided and this application March 3, 1949', Serial No. 79,502

. 19- Claims.

1. This application is a division, or myyapplicawtionSerial No. 627,997, filed November13, 1945, and issued November 1, 1949, as Patent No.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing, and for dispensing and applying pressure sensitive tape, and is hereinuparticularly illustrated in terms of manipulatable devices for dispensing and applying selected lengths of tape to objects.

Certain features of the present illustrative embodiments of my invention are described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,491,298 dated June 4, 1946 (reissued February 10, 1948, as Reissue No. 22972) and in the pending application of Harold G. Kendall, Serial No. 616,785 filed September 17; 1945 (issued June 20, 1950, as Patent No.- 2,511,856) andhaving common ownership with the present application.

It is an object of my inventiontoprovide device for the purposes above stated which are dependabl in operation and very simple and economical in construction.

It is another object to provide novel and simple means'in devices of the character mentioned for feeding a starting length of tape into a predetermined dispensing position.

It is another objectto provide such novel feeding means which is adapted, when operated, to

j hold the starting length releasably in a predetermined dispensing meltion.

It is a furtherpbie'ct to provide feeding means for pressure-sensitive tape with reclproo guide meansfor directing thetape into a, predetermined position andholding the same releasably thereat for easy withdrawal.

Another object is to provide a novel device adapted to enable predetermined lengths of pressure-sensitive tape to be dispensed therefrom without having to exert any substantial pull on the tape to draw it from the device.

Another object is to provide a device suitable for applying lengths of pressure-sensitive tape to thin Weak paper, soft packages or other objects which cannot stand any substantial pressure or pull thereon.

Other objects. and features of my invention will more fully appear from the following cles'eription and the appended claims.

In the description of. my invention reference is. had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure l is a side elevational view, With parts of the housing broken away, of a device accordtivetape to object;

Figure 2 is "a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of this device taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is another vertical section taken substantially on the line 5--5 ofFigure 1;

Figure 6 is a fractional side-elevational view showing details in the construction of the mechanism for controlling the tape-guiding member; and

Figure 7 is a fractional sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of "a second embodiment of tape applying device according to my invention, taken substantially on the line 8-43 of Figure 9;

Figure 9 is another vertical section of this second embodiment taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figures 10 and 11 are top and bottom plan views of this second embodiment:

Figure 12 is a side elevational view, with the side cover removed of a third embodiment oi tape applying device;

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line l3--l3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a fractional view of the tape roll and mounting means therefor; and

Figure 15 is a sectional view of the tape roll and. mountingtherefor taken substantially on the line l5l5 of Figure 12.

In Figures 1 through 7 I'show one embodiment r of applying device according to my invention.

This device has a housing I which, when viewing it from the side, has a semicircular upper portion from which extends rearwardly a handle 2 and a converging lower portion provided at the bottom with an opening 3 through which the tape is dispensed. This housing may suitably be made in three parts: a main part 4 including the handle 2, the right side wall 4a and a curved back wall 4?) extending from the uppermost part of the housing to the opening 3; a partial left side plate 5 which closes the rear ward half of the housing; and a cover '5 including the curved front wall 6a and a partial left side wall lib which cooperates with the left side plate 5 to complete the left side of the housing. The side plate 5 is secured permanently in place by screws '1, 1a and 1b; and the cover 6 is secured temporarily in place by screws 8 and Be. The cover is to be removed, for example, to permit a new roll of tape to be installed in the device.

The main housing part 4 has an internal laterally extending post 9 in the lower portion thereof to the end face of which is secured by screws a bracket IIl having therein a downwardly and rearwardly inclined slot II at the center of the housing. In the right wall 4a there is a corresponding slot I2. These slots receive removably the shaft extensions I3a and I3?) on an arbor I3 which forms a core for a tape supply roll I4. Preferably, the slots I I and I2 have different widths and the shaft extensions Ito and I32) have different diameters to fit the corresponding slots, this being so that the tape roll can be installed in only a correct positiona position wherein, as the tape is drawn downwardly from the roll, the adhesive side thereof will face forwardly in relation to the device. This is one form of unipositional tape-roll mounting arrangement described in the pending Kendall application abovementioned.

Depending below the post 9 is a lug I5 to which is hinged a plate It which extends downwardly to the opening 3. It is downwardly past the front of the post 9 and plate Iii that the tape is drawn from the roll. Among other functions, the post 9 and plate I6 constitute a means for backing the non-adhesive side of the tape.

The means for feeding a starting length of tape through the opening 3 comprises a plunger type feed member I! having left and right up standing legs I'Ia and IIb which straddle the roll I4. This feed member I I has a flat surface for holding to the tape by adhesive contact. The right leg IIb bears slidably against a notched block I8 provided as an integral part of the housing part 1a and lies wholly within the housing. The left leg I'Ia extends out of the housing into a side recess I9 thereof. This recess is formed by insetting the side plate 5 at 2!, the recess being closed at the front by an inturned wall section 60 of the cover 6 as shown in Figure 1. On the top portion of the leg I'Ia there is a turned-over lug forming a thumbpiece for actuating the feed member. This leg I'Ia is guided at the top in a slot 22 provided in the bottom wall ill of the recess I9, and is held stable against sidewise play at the bottom by a lug 23 turned over from the bracket Ill. The feed member is urged upwardly and rearwardly into an initial position-the position it occupies in Figure 1-by tension springs 25 connected between the legs I'Ia and I'Ib and the upper rearward part of the housing.

When the feed member I1 is in its initial position it seats in a notch 9b provided in the forward side of the post 9 and bears against the adhesive side of the tape under influence of the springs 25. This notch is bottomed by a resilient pad 26 such as rubber to assure that the feed member will have even contact with the tape. The pad 26 is hereinafter termed an anvil since it backs the tape engaged by the feed member. Upon depressing the feed member the same is initially cammed rearwardly by engagement of the shoulders 21 on the legs Na and I'll) with two similarly placed pins 28 and 29 of which the left pin is mounted on thebracket II] and the right pin is secured to the right wall Ga. By this camming action the feed member is moved obliquely away from the anvil 26. In the remaining downward movement of the feed member the same takes a path nearly straight downwardly to reach a. terminal position indicated by dash-dot lines at 30, which is to the front of the opening 3 as shown in Figure 1. As the feed memberis of the feed member.

guide member is about ahead of the feed 4 moved downwardly, an inclined latch spring 3I carried thereby is cammed inwardly by a pin 31. on the side plate 5 and snaps underneath this pin when the feed member reaches its terminal position to latch the feedmemben The feed member I1 is inclined from the vertical so that the tape engaging surface thereof is at an angle less than 180 degrees (typically about degrees) from the adhesive side of the tape leading from the feed member to the rollthis being referred to as the feed angle. .As is explained in my pending application above mentioned-when the feed angle is less than degrees the feed member grips the tape tenaciously and operates positively to pull the tape from the roll as it is pressed downwardly.

After anew tape roll is installed in the device, a free length of tape from the roll is drawn downwardly between the feed member and anvil 26 to the bottom of the plate It. The feed member thus initially engages the tape at a distance from the free end thereof. The tape ahead of the feed member constitutes a starting length which'is to, be initially applied to an object as the device isseated thereon. For pressing the tape against the object there is an applying member 33 on the housing I at the rear of the opening 3.

Associated with the feed member I? is a guide member 34 which is adapted to direct the starting length of tape obliquely through the opening. 3 and across the applying member 33 as the feed member is moved downwardly into its operated or terminal position. This-guide member is in the form of a bail pivoted at 35 to the two legs The horizontal part of the member and is urged counterclockwise, as it appears in Figure l, by a spring 36 against the adhesive side of the tape, the guide member. having however a contact of very small area, or line contact, with the tape. As the feedmemberis moved downwardly, a laterally extending arm 31 of the guide member slides in a slot 38 in the housing I to turn the guide member counterclockwise and flex thestarting length of tape rearwardly with respect to the feed member. Be-

Beneath the plate I6 there is a horizontal blade 40 having an inclined cutting edge lllcapreferably serrated as shown in Figure 3, that faces forwardly toward the opening 3. clamped between the applying member 33 and the housing I by a pair of screws lI shown in Figure 3. When the device is seated on an object and then moved forwardly to apply a length of tape thereto, the tape is first pulled free from the guide member andstripped from the feed member; thereafter, the tape is pulled slidingly against the plate IE. Normally this plate is latched in the forward position it occupies in the. figures by engagement of. a pawl 42 with a rearwardly extending arm Ifia of the plate. In this.

forward position the plate serves as a guard to withhold the tape from the blade so that any thereof, which extends leftwardly through an opening in the side plate 5 of the housing. The pawl is biased counterclockwise -(as it a earsia This blade is.

a'esogeer Figure; 5.) 1m: itsxlatching' position: by a. tension spring- The: upper face I'Sb of thearm I611 slopes downwardly to the left so that: when the thumbpiece 44 is pressed inwardly'the: pawl 42'' is freed: from the guard. plate and the latter is um latched. Thus; upon drawing the: tape across the applying member 33 while the thumbpiece 44 is pressed'iinwardly; the guard plate will bemoved rearwardl y by the tapeand the tape: will be pulled almostparallel with the blade 41] against the cutting edge. thereof, causing the tape to be readily severed. Therefore, simply by' releasing the guard plate while" continuing todrawtape" from the device, the operator may sever'the tape as desired. Uponreleasing thethumbpiece 44, the same is returned by the spring 45 to cam the guard plate forwardly into its efiective position.

It is desirable that the feed memberbe returned toiniti'al position asthe tape i's-severed butbefore the severing' is completed -i e., while the tape is taut against theguardf lever. Accordingly, I unl'atch the feed member from its operated position as thethumbpiece 44 is initially pressedinwardly,v this unlatching" being effected by the upper part of thepawl 42 engaging thelatch spring 3 and disengaging the latter from the pin 32. Assoorr V as the feed member is unlatched; it is snapped back to initial position by the springs During the return stroke of the feed member the guide member '34 is held spaced from the guard lever so that it will not contact the tape until the "feed member reaches its initial position. For this purpose, the upper part of the slot 38 is widened and a cam spring 46 is mounted therein which cams'the guide member clockwise during the final portion of the return stroke as will appear from Figures 6 and '7. As the feed member nears its initial p'osition-thearm 3? of the guide member enters a slot 4'1 in this camspring whereupon the guide member is snapped counterclock-- wise against the tape by the spring 36. In the forward stroke of the feed member, it will be understood that the arm 31 moves past the tip length in place should the tape be acci'dentally' severed before the feed member isreturned toinitial position.

.In Figures 8 to 11' inclusive I show a revised form of my' first embodiment above described,

wlr'rich is designed-for maximum economy in. man-- ufacturing and maximum dependability in operation. Thisembodiment has a housing 56 provided with a handle 51 which extends rearwardly with respect to thedirection of movement" of the device across an object. The housing is split at itsmedial plane M (seeFi gure 10) into two similar' left and right sections 50a andiilb which are: secured together by fourscrews 52 with inset heads of which two are at the bottom of the housing and two are in the handled-l. of the housing are offset at 53 so that the top portion of the housing has a reduced thickness, this thickness being the same as that oitheham dle 5 I The housing has a lower end wall section.

54 at the front, but upwardly from this wall S56". tion the: housing is open. Engaging this opening of the. housing is: a cover 55. prises ahollow semicircular: portion provided The side walls This cover com? 6* with. a; flat .dependingsection, 5.5m... rimr-ofif the: coyercis shouldered at15j5 (see. Figure. lU)--$G that: it will. fit into the opening: of, thehousing; and seat thereagainst. The lower cover: section has. an inset. lip 551) at the bottom which hooks on the wall 54. At the top thercoveris held resleasably' in place: by" a springclip Elonithe hous ing which engages a notch 58 inthe cover.

In the upper portion of the housing thereiisiwtape-M11 59 therfront portion of Whichdieswithixr. the cover 55. This rollhas a central-core. GU -pro vided at its axis with a circular hole-.SIgthat ex"- tends through the majorlength of the: core, the hole being at the end". of the. roll at which the: tape convolutions run counterclockwise goi d from the outer tothe inner portions ofthemlh This hole is engaged by'a journal stud fi z which threads through: aboss 63 in the left wall; ofi'ther housing; the stud having a head 62a to'perniit:

tobe easily removed and installed. The-rolll'i's located laterally between the boss-63' and a boss"- 64 on the. right wall of the housing. By-this mounting arrangement the roll can be installed in only a correct position wherein asthe tape is -drawn downwardlyfrom the roll the adhesive side=of the tape will faceto the front.

The housing has a bottom opening 65- through which the tape is dispensed and drawn from tha device. Thetape drawn from the roll passes first across a roller 66 which is journalled'betweentwo: lugs li-l'of a bracket tfiheldby screws to t'he' ri'ght' wall of the housing. Secured'to this braehet is 83 resilient pad 69 which forms an anvil for backing the non-adhesiveside oithe tape. Engagingthc 1 adhesive side of the tape backed by this'anvil is a feed member'm forpulling a startinglength of tape from the roll. This feed member has a shank 10a bent forwardly and secured to a plunger 12. The lower portion of the plunger. is U-shaped and straddles the lower portion oftheroll when the plungeris in its initial-i. e., uppermostposition shown in Figure 8. The right leg ofthe plunger terminates at the line. 13' shown Figure 8 and the left leg thereof extends up wardly through a slot M in the top inset wall portion ofthe left housing section 5011, thisleft leg terminating in a turned-over lugwhich; forms a thumbpiece l5. It is to the horizontal lower: cross portion of the plunger-that the-feed'memr her it isse'cured as by rivets H.

The sidewalls of the housing" below thetape roll. have portions it of increased thickness in which areprovided respectively two guide slots i1. Journalled to the "lower portion of the plunger at the sides thereof are rollers 18- which engage these slots, the rollers being at the-upper ends of the slots when the plunger is in. i' ts ini tial position. In going from-top to bottom; the slots curve forwardly and then extend straight downwardly so as to guide the feed member" obliquely away from the anvil 69' into the-termi nal position l9 indicatedby dash dot-lines: in

Figure 8. The plunger is urged upwardly and rearwardly of the housing by two tension springs connected to the legs thereof. Whemtha plunger is released from an operated positicnx' these springs rcturnit to its initial position and serve there to press the feed member against the adhesive side of the tape backed by the-anvil; 59.

At the rear of the opening 55 there isa sta tionary blade-8i secured by screws 82 agaihstthei bottom of the housing. This blade-has thenshank portion thereof cut away at iliw to providespace for a roller83= having trunnions at itsendswhich journal in, the side: walls of the; housing: 3

roller constitutes'an applying means for pressingthe tape, which is drawn from the device, into contact with an object as the device is rolled thereacross.

vAbove and to the front of the cutting edge of the blade 8| there is a guard plate 84 which spans the width of the opening 65 and has turned-back side portions 84a and 84b pivoted on a cross rod 85 supported at its ends bypthe side walls of the housing. At the lower end of this guard there is a roller 88 having trunnions journalled in the sides 84a and 84b of the guard. The left side 84a of the guard extends rearwardly to the back wall of the housing. Overlying this side 8411 is a detent lever 81 pivoted at 88 to an interior boss 88a on the left wall of the housing. This detent lever extends upwardly through an opening 53a in the left housing section and terminates in a thumbpiece 89 which is below and to the rear of the thumbpiece 15 for the feed mem ber., The leftward one of the springs 80 abovementioned connects to the upper end portion of this detent lever and urges the lever counterclockwise intoan effectiv position defined by the abutment of the lower end thereof against the back wall of the housing. In this position the'detent lever lies directly above the rearward end of the side 84a of the guard and latches the guard in an effective position wherein the guard serves to withhold the tape from the blade as the tape is drawn from the device across the roller 83. When the thumbpiece 89 is pressed rearwardly the detent lever registers with a notch 90 in the guard side 84a to free the guard so that it may be moved rearwardly to an ineffective position 99 shown by dash dot lines in Figure 8.

The guard 84 has a slit adjacent its right side in which there is a latch lever 9| for the plunger 12, which is pivoted on the cross rod 85. This latch leveris biased forwardly relative to the guard in a position defined by the abutment of a. depending leg 9 la of the lever against the back side ofthe guard,'the biasing being effected by a tension spring 92 connected between a rearward arm of the lever and a lug on the guard as shown in Figure 8. Extending rearwardly from the right side of the feed member 10 is lug 93.

Asthe plunger 12 is depressed this lug engages thelatch lever 9| and cams it rearwardly, and then the latch 1ever snaps over the lug and latches automatically the feed member in its terminal position.

Extending laterally from opposite sides of the feed member [9 are ears 94 on which is pivoted a depending u shaped guide lever 95. This guide 1ever has a rearwardly extending portion 95a-which has a line contact with the adhesive side of the tape at a distance, say T inch, ahead of the feed member. On the right side of the guide member there is a laterally extending ear 96 which engages a guide slot 91 provided in the thickened portion 76 of the right wall of the housing. As the plunger 12 is depressed the ear 96 slides downwardly through the slot 91 and turns the guide lever rearwardly with respect to the feed member so as to guide the starting length of tape obliquely through the opening 65 and across the applying roller 83.

To put the device in condition for operation after installing a new roll of tape, the user will press the thumbpiece 75 to latch the plunger 12 in operated position and clear a path from the tape roll to the opening 65. The user then passes a length of tape from the roll through this path to the opening 65, or alternatively he may project it through this opening in whichcase.

he will next pull the projecting tape against theguard 84 while depressing the thumbpiece89 to release the guard so that the tape will be pulled against the blade and be severed. As the guard is moved to ineffective position by the tape the latch lever 9| is disengaged from the lug 93 whereupon the springs return the feed mem ber 10 to initial position. (Since the user has to depress the thumbpiece 89 in order to sever the tape, and the plunger 12 is adapted to be operated also by the thumb, he is prevented from accidentally interfering with the automatic return of the feed member to initial position as the tape is severed.) The device is now ready for use, as follows.

When a length of tape is to be applied to an object, the thumbpiece 15 is depressed until the plunger 12 is latched. As this is done the feed member retains a hold on the tape ata feed angle of less than degrees and pulls a length of tape from the roll. At the same time the guide- .lever is turned counterclockwise to flex the startlength is so fed out in a dispensing position the.

device is seated on an object and rolled forwardly thereacross to apply a length of tape thereto. In order that the tape may be so ap.

plied with a minimum pull on the tape ther arev provided the rollers 66, 86 and 83 as above-. described. When the desired length of tape is applied, the thumbpiece 89 is depressed and the device is moved further forwardly to sever the.

tape and return the feed member to initial position as above explained. To facilitate this severing a pointed blade is preferably used so that it will first puncture the tape and cause the tape to tear off easily as described in the aforementioned pending Kendall application. In this embodiment, only when the guard is moved to in efiective position is the feed member returned.

This mode of controlling the return of the feed member assures that the tape will be taut against.

the guard as the feed member is returned and assures against a premature engagement of the feed and guide members with the tape such as might foul the operation of the device.

In Figures 12 to 17 inclusive I show a third embodiment of my invention which is adapted for applying pressure-sensitive tape to weak thin. sheets, for sealing packages wrapped with thin.

out exerting any substantial pull on the tape.

This applying device comprises a housing Hill having a uniform thickness and a generally oval shape as viewed from the side. has a handle I (ll at the top below which there is an opening I02 to clear the fingers of the hand as the handle is .gripped. Theopening N12;

The housing;

aesacor is surrounded byan interior wall 103 of the housing. The. right .side of "the housing-the side facing the reader in Figure l2-is closed by a removable cover plate I04 shown by dash dot lines in Figure 13. At the top of this cover plate there is an inwardly curved section I04a which constitutes part of the inner wall of the handle IOI. I

In one end portion of the housing there is a disk formed of ratchet wheel I05 journalled on a stud I06 whichis threaded in an interior boss I01 of the housing. This ratchet wheel carries two diametrically opposite arms I06 which are bent-over portions of the ratchet wheel. When the arms are made integral with the ratchet wheel :as described, the latter is made of a spring material, say phosphor bronze, so that the arms will have a substantial resilience. These arms flare outwardly but have inwardly curved end portions I08a, so that they will engage the annular core piece I09 of a standard roll ofpressure-sensitive tape and retain the roll inmcunted position, upon simply pressing the core Lpiece axially against the'ratchet wheel. The tape roll is to be mounted with the winding running counterclockwise fromthe outer to the inner portions of the roll aslviewed in Figure 12,. so thatas the tape ;I Ia is drawn downwardlyfrom the roll the adhesive side thereof Willface in the direction in which the device is to be moved across an object, the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 12. In order to prevent .the user from mounting the roll with the wrong side facing the ratchet wheel, as well as installing a roll which may not be suitable for use in the device, I,provid e the core piece I09 of each roll to be used in the device with one or more slits III, preferably two in diametrically opposite positions, at the ends of the roll at which the tape winding runs clockwise going from the outerto the inner portions of the roll, and I turn over from the ratchet wheel I two cating lugs H2, preferably at 90 degrees from the .arms I00, which are adapted toengagethese slits of the core piece when the roll .is properly mounted. These lugs have a length such that should the user attempt to install a roll in the wrong position the lugs ,willprevent the roll from being pressed against the ratchet wheel and the arms I08 from effectively engaging .the core piece. Additionally, the lugs H2 serve to lock rotatably the roll to the ratchet wheel, which is advantageous in the present embodiment as will hereinafter appear.

Secured to thearight side wall [00a of the housing, near the center thereof, is a bracket H3 having a, platform Htaspaced from the wall W011 and extending radially from the tape roll H0. This platform is covered by a resilient pad H4 which may be part of a rubber band stretched around the platform as shown. This pad constitutes an anvil which backs the nonadhesi-ve side of the tape Hlla drawn from the roll. Pivoted at H5 to the lower portion of the housing is a lever H6. In it initial position shown in Figure 12, this lever extends upwardly to theright of the anvil H4, then laterally across the anvil at a short distance thereabove and next downwardly for a short distance between the anvil and "wall I00a. Straddling the anvil is an inverted U-shaped feed member II! which is-pivoted below the anvil at H8 torthe lever H6. Under influence of a tension spring H9 which urges the. lever H0 clockwise as it apma in Figure t e c d m mber en a es 10 the adhesive side of the tape backed by the anvil, the engaging face of the feed member free end of the manual lever is a link I25 which extends downwardly along the wall I000: and terminates between this walland a U-shaped lower part IIGa of the lever H6. This lower portion of the link has a slot I26 in the lower end portion thereof to form a catch for engaging a stud I2! on the lever part HBa.

As the handle is gripped by the hand the manual lever is swung (upwardly into an open space IOIa within the handle, and in response thereto the lever IIB is turned by .the link I25 counterclockwise (as it appears in Figure .12) through an angle of approximately '70 degrees. In the initial counterclockwise movement of .the lever H6 the feed member is turned clockwise by the resisting feed force of the tape until the right leg thereof abuts against a lug I28 turned over v from the lever 116.. By this clockwise movement of the feed member, the .angleIbetween the engaging face thereof and the adhesive side of the tape leading to .the roll-wherein termed the feed angle-is reduced to .less than 180 degrees and the feed member therefor has a tenacious grip to the tape. Near the end of the feed stroke the left leg of the feed member hits against a pin I29 on the wall l00a and is tripped-i. e., turned clockwise to increase the feed angle to more than 180 degrees. The feed member has now a weak hold to the tape. In the finalportion of the feed stroke immediately following the tripping of the feed member the part IIBa of the lever IIB presses against a detent pawl I30 and latches the ratchet wheel I05. The tape is thus positively stripped from the feed member as it is moved into its terminal position I3I shown'by dash dotlines inFigure 12. This feature of locking the tape supply roll duringthe latter part of the feed stroke, which is'to assure positively the release of the tape from the feed member during the latter part of each feed stroke regardless .ofhow tenaciously the tape may be vheld by the feed member, is claimed in mypending U. S. patent application, Serial No. 635,890 filed December 19, 1945,.now Patent No. 2,486,471 dated November 1, 1949.

"The tape isdispensed through abottom opening I32 in the housing, which is to the front of the pivot H5 with .respect to the direction ofmovement of the device. At the rear of the opening there is ablade .I 33and clamped againstthe rearward part of the blade by screws I34isa flat iron I35 for applying the dispensedtape to anobject. Leading from the front of the blade towards the anvil Hfi isa guard plate I36 whichlhas an arm l t'lturned Over from the side thereof pivoted at I38 to the wall a. This guard plate is biased lightly by a tension spring I39 into an effective position-defined bycontac't of the arm I31 with apin I4'll-the position it occupies .in'Figure 12- wherein it serves to withhold the'tape from the blade I33. Extending from the toppart of the guard is a catch MI which snapsover a roller I42 on theinner end-ofthe stud I2lto latch thelever I.I 6 in an. operated position.

The catch IAI engages the roller .I42 before I the manual lever I2I reaches a fully operated position. In the final movement of this manual lever a cam I43 on the link I25 engages a pin I44 on the housing and releases the link from the stud I26. The lever I2I is thus uncoupled from the lever II6- so long as a tight grip is retained on the handle.

After the roll I I6 is first installed in the device the lever H6 is latched in its operated position and a free length IIIla of the tape is drawn across the anvil H4 and downwardly across the guard plate I36 and through the opening I32. Next, While the handle is being gripped, the tape is drawn from the device against the guard plate so as to unlatch the lever H6 and pull the tape against the blade I33 and be severed. When the lever H6 is unlatched it is returned by the spring H9 to engage the feed member with the tape backedby the anvil H4. At the same time a spring guide finger I45 on the lever I I6 engages the adhesive side of the tape on a line at a short distance from the free end thereof and retains the tape against the guard plate. When the lever I2I is released, it is returned to initial position by a spring I2Ia connected to the link I25. As the lever I2I is so returned, the end of the link is cammed over the stud I27 and then, when the slot I26 registers with the stud, the link is snapped by the spring I2 Ia into engagement with the stud. When the handle "H is next gripped and the lever I2I operated, a length of tape is pulled from the roll, the feed member is released therefrom and the lever H6 is then latched in its operated position. At the same time an end portion-i. e.. starting length-of the tape is carried by the guide finger I45 on an are through the opening I32. At the end of the feed stroke there is thus a curled free slack length of tape stored in the free forward space of the housing and extending through the opening I32, which is held in place only by the guide finger I45. Upon seating the device on an object the starting length is applied thereto and upon next moving the device across the object this free length is drawn from the device, the only resisting force on the tape being that to break the line contact of the tape with the guide finger. When this free length is drawn out, a slight pull on the tape will move the guard back to ineffective position, causing the tape to be drawn against the blade and be severed.

While I have herein particularly describedmy invention in terms of devices for dispensing and applying tape, it will be understood that these devices are illustrative of useful subcombinations thereof, this being particularly true as to the tape feeding mechanisms thereof which may be used singly or in combination with the tape severing means merely for dispensing lengths of tape or in combination still with other mechanisms for other purposes as illustrated. Also these devices are subject to changes and modification without departure from the scope of my invention; which I endeavor to express according to the following claims.

. I claim:

1. In apparatus including a supply roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape: the combination of means for holding to the tape by adhesive contact and pulling the tape from said roll, said pulling means being mounted for bodily reciprocative movement and having an initia1 position wherein it engages the adhesive side of the tape at a distance from the free end thereof; guiding means ahead of said pulling means in position for releasably engaging the leading free end portion of the tape; means movably connecting. said guiding means to said pulling means for movement of the former relative to the latter; and means operatively connected to said guiding means and effective upon operation of said pulling means for causing the guiding means to be moved to direct said free end portion of the tape into a predetermined position.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a member for engaging a small area of the adhesive side of the tape sufficient to enable it to hold the leading free end portion of the tape only by reason of its adhesion thereto and adapted to enable the leading portion of the tape to be released therefrom in response to a small force exerted on the tape.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a member adapted for engaging the adhesive side of the tape on a line contact transversely of the tape.

4. In apparatus including a supply roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape: the combination of a feed member having a surface for holding to the tape by adhesive contact; means for moving said feed member to pull tape from said roll while maintaining said surface at a feed angle of degrees or less relative to the adhesive side of the I tape leading from the feed member to said roll, said feed member having an initial position wherein it engages the adhesive side of the tape at a distance from the free end thereof, and means connected to said feed member and carried therewith for engaging the free length of tape ahead of said feed member and flexing said free length in a transverse direction.

5. In apparatus for feeding pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and holding the same releasably' at a dispensing station for removal in a given direction therefrom: the combination of a feed member having a substantially flat surface for engaging the adhesive side of the tape and hold-- ling to it by adhesive contact, said feed member having an initial position wherein it engages said tape at a distance from the free end thereof; a tape-guiding member having a tape-contacting surface ahead of said feed member and mounted for movement transverse to said engaging surface of the feed member; means for moving said feed member towards said station into a terminal position wherein the engaging surface thereof faces principally in said direction; and means controlling said guide member as said feed member is moved towards said station for flexing the free end portion of the tape sidewise of said feed member in said direction.

6. In apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensie tive tape from a supply roll: the combination of a tape feeding means mounted for reciprocative movement and adapted to engage the tape ata distance from the free end thereof; and guide means for the leading end portion of the tape, said guide means being carried bodily with said feeding means and mounted for movement relative thereto.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 including means for actuating said feeding means, and means operative upon actuation of said feeding means for moving said guide means relative thereto.

8. A mechanism for feeding a length of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from a tape roll into a predetermined position comprising a feed member having a surface for engaging the adasse s 9i 13 hesive side of the tape and" holding thereto by adhesive contact, s'a'id feed member having an initial position wherein it engages the tape at a distance from the free end thereof a guide member adapted to have a relatively limited area of contact with the adhesive side of the tap ahead of said feed member; means for moving said feed member while maintaining the engaging sur ace thereof at a feed angle or 18-0 degrees or less from the adhesive Side of the tape 1eading'ffom said surface to said roll whereby to maintain a hold to the tape and pull the tape from said r011; and means, eirettiveto ause "said guide member to move transversely of said feed mem her as said feed member is moved, for flexing the free length of tape ahead of said feed member into a position wherein said free length is less than 180 degrees from the tape applied to said engaging surface of the feed member.

9. In apparatus for feeding' a free length of pressure-sensitive tape from-a tape roll into a predetermined position: the combination of means for backing the non-adhesive side of the tape drawn from said roll; a r eciprocable feed member urged towards said backing means into engagement with the adhesive side of the tape at a distance from the free end thereof; a tapeguide member contacting the tape ahead of said feed member and movable transversely of the latter; means for advancing said feed member along said backing means; means for moving said guide member transversely of the path of said feed member and in a direction towards said backing means as said feed member is advanced; and means associated with said moving means and effective during the return stroke of said feed member for retracting said guide member in a direction away from said backing means.

10. In apparatus for feeding a free length of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of tape feeding means for engaging the tape at a distance from the free end thereof and pulling the tape from said supply roll; guide means for the leading end portion of the tape mounted for reciprocative movement; reciprocable means coupled to said feeding means and guide means for actuating the feeding means and for concurrently advancing the guide means in a predetermined path to direct the tape into a predetermined position; and means effective upon return of said reciprocable actuating means for returning said guide means in a path displaced from that of its advance movement.

11. In apparatus for feeding a free length of pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of tape feeding means for engaging the tape at a distance from the free end thereof and pulling the tape from said supply roll; guide means for the leading end portion of the tape mounted for reciprocative movement; means for actuating said feeding means and for concurrently advancing said guide means in a predetermined path to direct the leading end portion of the tape into a predetermined position; and means coacting with said guide means for directing the same during the return movementthereof in a path displaced from that of its advance movement.

12. In a device including a supply roll of pressure-sensitive tape and adapted to enable a given length of said tape to be dispensed without exerting any substantial pull on the tape to draw it from said device, said device including a housing having an opening through which the tape is drawn; the combination of means for releasably aeiaingvto the tape-ate distance immthe free end thereof, said housinghaving time spacefthere'in for storing a free length of tape drawn from said run; means for moving said tape-holding means into said space to pull "a length of tape from said roll and thereupon to release the holding means from the tape; and guide means operable by said moving me'an'sfor contacting the adhesive side of the tape neartne end thereof and projecting the end portion er said free length through said opening.

13; In a device adaptedfor dispensing pres sure-sensitive adhesive tape from a supply roll and applying the tape to objects: the combine tion of a housing for said "device having an open ingthrough which said tape is dispensed and having a space therein for storing a curled free length of tape drawn from said roll; a feed mem her having a surface for holding to the tapeby adhesive contact, said feed member having an initial position wherein it engages the adhesive side of the tape at a distance from the free end thereof; means for moving said feed-memb'erinto said space while maintaining said surface at 'an angle 'of less than degrees from the adhesive side of the tape leading to the roll whereby 'tlie feed memberretains hold to the tape and pulls" "a free length of tape into said storing space; and means coupled to said feed member for releasably holding to the tape by adhesive contact and projecting an end portion of said free length through said opening as said length is pulled from said roll.

14. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll, including a housing having an opening through which the tape is dispensed: the combination of means for releasably taking hold of the tape at a distance from said opening; a lever actuatable from an initial position for moving said holding means to pull a length of tape from said roll; a spring finger mounted on said lever for contacting the adhesive side of the tape near the end thereof as the lever is returned to initial position, said lever being pivoted adjacent to said opening in a position to cause said finger to project the end portion of the tape on an are through said opening as said lever is actuated.

15. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll including a housing having an opening through which the tape is dispensed: the combination of feed means for releasably engaging the adhesive side of the tape at a distance from the free end thereof, said feed means having an initial position at a distance from said opening; means for moving said feed means obliquely towards said opening to pull a length of tape from said roll, and means operatively connected to said feed means and carried along the path thereof for projecting an end portion of said length through said opening as the same is pulled from said roll.

16. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensi tive tape from a supply roll: the combination of tape feed means for releasably engaging the tape; means for actuating said feed means to pull a length of tape from said roll and thereupon to release the feed means from the tape; and reciprocable guide means mounted for movement in relation to said feed means and guided in a predetermined path different from said feed means, said guide means being operatively connected to said feed means and operable by said actuating means for releasably engaging a, leading portion ,acsaeei of'the tape and directing it into a predetermined position as said feed means is actuated.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16, including means operable incidental to releasing the tape from said guide means and drawing said length from said device for returning the guide means to its starting position.

.its adhesive contact, said feed member being mounted for reciprocative movement from and to an initial position wherein it engages the tape at a distance from the free end thereof; actuatable means for advancing said feed member while maintaining said surface at 180 degrees or less from the adhesive side of the tape leading therefrom to pull a length of tape from said roll, and

thereupon further advancing said feed member and causing said surface to be at more than 180 degrees from the tape to release the feed member from the tape; and movable guide means releasably engaging the leading portion of the tape ahead of said feed member and operable by said actuatable means as said feed member is advanced for directing the tape into a predetermined position.

19. In an apparatus for dispensing pressuresensitive tape from a supply roll: the combination of a tape feed means mounted for reciprocative movement and including a feed member having a surface for engaging the adhesive side of the tape; means for moving said feed means to pull a length of tape from said roll and thereupon to release said feed member from the tape; and movable guide means including a guide memher for releasably engaging the adhesive side of the tape at a distance from said feed member and holding the tape in a predetermined position when the tape is released from said feed member, said guide member having a substantially smaller area of contact with the tape than has said .feed member.

Y GEORGE H. FRITZINGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,513,106 Gruman Oct. 28, 1934 2,001,520 Carlson May 14, 1935 2,149,088 Grunwald Feb. 28, 1939 Berridge Dec. 5, 1944 

